Vipers can’t break the ice

Feb 11 2008 The Journal

Mobilx Vipers 0

Nottingham Panthers 3

THE Vipers were shut out for the second successive time by a Panthers side who played a canny road game, writes PETER ADAMS.

After the exertions of Saturday’s thrilling 4-3, three fights and one bench clearance victory against the Cardiff Devils, the Vipers looked fatigued from the start.

The team also took to the ice without Todd Jackson. The winger had received a bang on the head in the Devils game but gamely took part in the warm-up last night. He was forced to withdraw, though, as he felt ill.

The Vipers came close to scoring twice during a mid-first powerplay, striking the metalwork twice and there was a great chance for Shaun Johnson when he broke down the middle. At the beginning of the middle period, the Vipers again troubled the Panthers’ defence and they were to rue the missed opportunities as, on 27 minutes, the visitors went ahead. The goal was scored by Kevin Bergin with a low diagonal shot to netminder Ryan MacDonald’s left. It became 2-0 on 32 minutes. MacDonald was on his knees as a scramble developed around his crease and Sean McAsalan applied the finishing touch.

Panthers third goal came on 58 minutes, scored by Patrick Wannelburg.

On Saturday, Colin Shields’ natural hat-trick against the Devils turned a 2-1 disadvantage into a 4-2 advantage for the Vipers at 52 minutes.

Winger Ben Campbell had put the Vipers ahead on nine minutes but his goal was negated by Tyson Teplitsky, who then put the Devils ahead on 14 minutes. A Teplitsky powerplay goal plus two fights made the final five minutes ultra competitive, with a third scrap breaking out and then a bench clearance occurred after the hooter.

SCORERS

Yesterday – Panthers: Bergin and McAslan 1+1, Wannelburg 1+0, Coleman and Nielsen 0+1.

Saturday – Vipers: Shields 3+0, B Campbell 1+0, Hutchins and Jackson 0+2, Henderson, Johnston and Longstaff and Lundin 0+1. Devils: Teplitsky 3+0, Garrow 0+2, Birbraer, Des Chatelets, Hill and Petricko 0+1.